Machine for grinding and polishing stones.



J. H. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING STONES. APPLICATIUN FILED 05c. 3|. I915.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

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I. H. SPEARS.

MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING STONES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-3h 1915- I 1,21 1,776. Patented Jan. 9,1917.

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@NITED STATES PATENT @FFIQFZ.

JOSEPH H. SPEARS, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO 'lY-SA-MAN MACHINE COMPANY, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE.

MACHINE FOR GRINDING AND POLISHING STONES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

Application filed December 31, 1915. Serial N 0. 69,596.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, J OSEPH H. SPnARs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knoxville, in the county of Knox and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Grinding and Polishing Stones, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for grinding and polishing stone, the primary object of the invention being the provision of a machine carrying and operating a grinding disk so constructed that the disk may be swung from side to side over a table or other support in order that it may be applied to different portions of the stone being treated and also in such a manner that it may be raised or lowered to operate upon stones of different thicknesses and further raised or lowered to bring it out of engagement with the work or to vary the force with which it will be held in engagement with the work.

A still further object of the invention consists in the provision of a vertical supporting member carrying a laterally directed track upon which a supporting carriage is movable, this carriage in turn supporting the grinding or polishing mechanism'proper and a motor for operating such mechanism.

In this connection, a further object of the invention consists in providing an improved method for adjusting the tracks vertically with respect to the support so are ranged that the adjustment may be accom-- plished by an operator standing near the carriage, irrespective of the position along the track which the carriage may occupy.

In grinding machines of the character specified, it is common to have a hand lever upon which pressure may be exerted to force the grinding disk or member into engagement with the work being operated upon, and a further object of the present invention comprehends the provision of means which will permit lateral movement of this lever to any desired position convenient to the operator and which may be locked in such position to prevent slippin WVith these and other objects in View, the invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then specifically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a part of this application.

In the drawings: Figure l is a side elevatlOll' of the improved machine portions being shown in section to more fully disclose certain features of construction; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine, a portion of the supporting structure being shown in transverse section; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig.

1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a trans verse sectional View taken onthe line 55 of Fig. 1, also looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. '6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a means for looking a hand lever against lateral movement; Fig.

7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a portion of the track elevating mechanism.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

. The supporting structure of this invention includes a track 10 extending laterally from a vertically adjustable sleeve 11 movable upon a vertically disposed and rotatable standard 12 mounted between spaced heads 13 journaled in brackets 14 which may be secured to a wall 15 orothe'r suitable support in vertical alinement with each other. The standard 12 is cylindrical in shape, preferably hollow, and supported at its ends within annular flanges 16 formed upon opposed faces of the heads 13. These heads are also formed with opposed annular flanges 17 concentric with the flanges 16 and fixedly receiving trunnions 18 which project beyond the heads. The trunnion at the upper end of the standard is journaled in an inverted cup bearing 19 formed in the upper bracket 14: and providing a ball race 20 to take up lateral strain. The lower of the trunnions 18 is formed with a conical outer terminal to seat in a conical socket formed in the upperface of a bearing block 21'seating in' an annular pocket 22 formed in the upper face of the lower bracket 14; This bearing block 21 has an arcuate lower face in order to permit proper centralizing of the trunnion in its socket of, are formed oppositely and the block is centralized in the pocket 22 by a plurality of centering screws 23 threaded through the walls of the pocket and engaging the block in the manner best shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. As clearly shown in Fig. l'of the drawings, the plates or heads 13 are provided with extensions thickened and apertured to receive the terminals of alshaft 24 which extends in parallel spaced relation to the standard 12 and which is fixed against rotation in any suitable manner, such as by means of the set screw 25. This shaft, throughout the greater portion of its length, is screw threaded, as shown at 26, for a reason which will be hereinafter explained.

The sleeve 11 is slidably mounted upon the standard 12, fitting closely about it, and is provided at its upper and lower ends with reinforcing beads 27. Adjacent the lower end of the sleeve 11, and at either side theredirected ears 28 having spaced horizontally disposed flanges 29 forming seats for the ends of the rails 30 of the track 10. These rails are L-shaped in section and are disposed with a vertical web engaging between the flanges 29 and with their horizontal webs extending outwardly from the lower edges of the vertical webs, as clearly shown'in Fig. 3. The rails are securedin the seats by bolts or rivets 31 passes through them and through the ears 28 forming the rail seats, these seats being so arranged that the rails extend in parallel spaced relation. In order to maintain the rails in proper spaced relation, U shaped spacer braces 32 are provided at suitable intervals, these braces being secured at their downwardly directed ends to the inner faces of the vertical webs of the rails, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The sleeve 11, at its upper end, is formed with an eye 33 and a diagonally disposed brace rod 3% is secured at one end to the intermediate portion of one of the rails 30 land has its opposite end threaded and passed through the eye to receivea nut 35. By this means, any likelihood of verticalmovement of the track with respect to the sleeve, through springing of the rails, is prevented.

Abrack'et arm 36, preferably formed integrally with the sleeve 11, extends radially and carries a sleeve 37 which journals a nut 38 threaded upon the shaft 26 and extending beyond the sleeve to receive a thrust collar 39'at one end and a beveled gear 40 at its other end. A second bracket 41, either formed integrally with or secured to the sleevell, extendsfrom the sleeve and terminates at its end in a bearing 42 which journals a shaft 43' extending at right angles to thej shaft24 cand carrying at its inner end a beveled gear 44 which meshes with the beveledgear 40 and at its outer end a sprocket wheel 45. It'will, therefore, be clear that turning of the sprocket wheel L5 in one direction or the other will cause a corresponding rotation of the nut 38 and consequent vertical movement of the sleeve 11 upon the standard 12. At the same time, inasmuch as the shaft 2% and standard 12 are both carried by the same plates or heads 13, it will be clear that they will both swing together about the'trunnions 18 as an axis and that the track may, therefore, be swung about such trunnions as an axis.

Supported by and movable longitudinally of the track 10, is'a carriage, indicated as a whole by the numeral 46. This carriage includes the track rail engaging wheels e7 mounted upon the stub shafts or axles lS journaled in bearings 49 formed in the upper or free ends of a U-shaped bracket or hanger 50 which depends from the wheels below the track and further includes a second'pair of rail engaging wheels 51 similarly mounted upon stub'shafts 52 journaled in bearings .53 formed in the upper or free terminals of a second U-shaped bracket or hanger 5& depending below the track. The

former bracket is of greater length than the latter and the body portion of each is substantially T-shaped in cross section having an outwardly directed encirclingfiange 55. The bracket or hanger 50 adjacent its lower end, is provided with inwardly directed ears 56 and a base or platform 57 is securedat one end to the intermediate portion of the flange 55 of the hanger 5e and at its other end to the ears 56 of the hanger 50. To additionally brace this platform, arms 58 are extended from the bottom of the platform and secured at their ends to the intermediate portion of the flange 55 of the hanger 50. The above described carriage supports both the grinding mechanism proper and the motor for operating such mechanism.

The intermediate portio'nof the hanger 50 is formed with a vertically disposed elongated bearing59 in which is journaled the tubular spindle 60 which is formed in two alined'portions connected by a universal joint 61, the lower portion being adapted for attachment to any suitable form of grinding or polishing head 62 of rotary type. The upper section of this spindle, in" addition to being journaled in the bearing 59, is also ournaled in a bearing formed in a cross brace 63 and itsdownward movement through these bearings is limited by a stop collar 64, A hose 65 is connected at one end to any'suitable source of water supply and at its other end has swiveled connection, as shown at'66, with the upper end orthe spindle in orderthat water may be conveniently supplied to the "grinding or polishinghead 62. A spacer sleeve 67 has sliding connection with the spindle '60 and engages at its upper end against the brace 63 and at its other end carries a beveled gear 68 which meshes with a beveled pinion 69 carried by the motor shaft 70 of an electric motor 71 supported upon and secured to the platform 57. Means is thus provided for imparting rotary movement to the tool head 62 by a direct gear drive, irrespective of the position which the carriage occupies with respect to the track.

A bearing plate 72 is preferably formed integrally with the intermediate portion of the bearing 59, extending rearwardly beneath the platform 57 and a bracket 78 is rotatably mounted about the bearing 59 below this bearing plate and held against downward movement by a collar 7 4 secured to the bearing 59. This bracket is in the form of a downwardly curved arm and a handle bar 75 is pivotally connected at one end to this arm and intermediate its length to a collar 7 6 freely mounted for rotation between stop collars 77 secured to the spindle 60, a thrust bearing 78 being preferably interposed'between the loose collar 7 6 and the lower fixed collar 77. As shown in Figs. 2 and a of the drawings, this handle bar includes spaced side portions which extend at either side of the collar 76 and bracket arm 73 and an intermediate looped portion which is adapted to be manually engaged either by a hand or by restlng an arm upon it and which affords a means for forcing the tool head into engagement with the work at the desired pressure and also, of course, for raising the tool head out of engagement with the work.

The bracket 78 is provided with a transverse shoulder 79 concentrically formed with respect to the spindle and engaging against the lower face of the bearing plate 72 to take the strain away from the connection between the bracket and bearing plate whenstrong downward pressure is exerted against the handle bar 75. The bearlng plate 72 is formed in its peripheral edge with a notch 80 and the hub portion 81 of the bracket 73 is formed with a plurality of peripherally spaced notches 82 to receive a hand latch 83 which is pivoted at one end to the fixed collar 74. It will, therefore, be seen that by releasing this hand latch, the bracket 73 may be turned through a considerable angle to bring the handle bar at any convenient position and the latch may then be swung to engage in the notch 80 of the fixed bearing plate and the alined notch 82 of the bracket hub to lock the bracket and, consequently, the handle bar against lateral swinging movement.

The free end of the shaft 43 and of the stub shafts 48 and 52 are extended to re ceive sprocket wheels 45, 85, and 86, respectively, the former of these sprocket wheels being fixed to its shaft. The free ends of the track rails 30 carry upstanding bracket arms 87 which carry a shaft 88 upon the proper position upon the track.

The sprockets 45, 85, 86, 89 and 91 are all arranged in the same vertical plane and a chain 93 is trained about them 1n the manner shown in Fig. 1 in such a manner that turning of the hand crank 92 will cause turning of the shaft a3 and, consequent, vertical movement of the supporting sleevell about its standard 12. The arrangement of sprocket wheels is such as to in no way interfere with the movement of the carriage along the track and the chain will always remain at the same tension for all positions of the carriage on the track.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the operation of the machine comprising the present invention will be readily understood. By proper manipulation of the hand crank 92, the track may be raised or lowered to the proper elevation to permit bringing the grinding head over the work to be operated upon by swinging of the track about the standard 12 and by moving the carriage to i The hand crank will then be turned to lower the spindle 60 until the tool head 62 has engaged the work and the spindle has been forced upwardly somewhat through its bearings. The handle bar is then grasped to raise the tool head out of engagement with the work and the motor started. As soon as the tool head has obtained sufficient speed, it is gradually lowered into engagement with the work, water being supplied to it through the hose 65 and is held in e11- gagement with the work at any desired pressure by force applied downwardly upon the handle bar 75.

Although the machine is illustrated in all its details of construction, it will of course be understood that various minor changes, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made at any time desired without in the slightest degree departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A grinding and polishing machine including a revolubly mounted standard, a sleeve movable vertically of the standard, a track secured to the sleeve and extending horizontally, a carriage movable along the track, a tool head receiving spindle journaled in vertically alined bearings formed upon the carriage, and means operable from the carriage for raising and lowering the track.

2. A grinding and polishing machine including a revolubly mounted standard, a sleeve movable vertically of the standard, a track secured to the sleeve and extending upon the carriage,

wheels supported by the carriage,

horizontally, a carriage movable along the track, a tool naled in vertically alined bearingsrformed and means operable from the carriage for raising and lowering the track, said means including a threaded shaft, a nut carried by the sleeve and engaging the shaft, a sprocket wheel, operative connection between the sprocket wheel and nut, an additional sprocket wheel supported by the track, a plurality of sprocket a chain trained about all of the sprocket wheels in such a manner as to remain stretched, irrespective of the position of the carriage on the track, and means for manually rotating one of the sprocket wheels on the carriage.

3. A grinding and polishing machine including a track supported for swinging movement in a horizontal plane and also movable vertically, a carriage movable along thetrack, a spindle journaled in bearings formed in the carriage, means supported on the carriage for driving the spindle, means for manually raising and lowering the spindle, such means being movable in a horizontal plane without effecting movement of the spindle, andwmeans for locking such ing of the latter,

means against movement in a horizontal plane. H

.4. A grinding and polishing machine including a swingingly' mounted track, a carriage movable along the track, a tool head receiving spindle journaled in vertically alined bearings supported by the carriage, means for rotating-the spindle, a bracket supported by the carriage and free for turning movement, a handle bar pivoted at one end to the bracket and operatively engaging the spindle to permit raising and lowerand means for locking the bracket against swinging movement.

5. A grinding and polishing machine including a swingingly mounted track, a carriage movable along the track, a tool head receiving spindle journaled in vertically V alined bearings supported by the carriage,

means for rotating the spindle, a bracket supported by the carriage and free for turning movement, a handle bar pivoted at one end to the bracket and operatively engaging the spindle to permit raising" andlowering copies of this patent may be obtained for head receiving spindle jour-' of the latter, and means for locking the V bracket against swinging movement, said means including a bearing plate supported by the carriage and formed with a notch adapted to aline with oneof a plurality of notches formed in the bracket, and a locking lever pivoted to the bracket and adapted to simultaneously engage in the notch of the bearing plate and one of the notches of the bracket.

(S. A grinding and polishing machine including a swingingly mounted track, a carriage movable along the track, a tubular spindle adapted for connection with a grinding or polishing tool and including a universal joint, and means mounted on the carriage for rotating the spindle.

7. A grinding and polishing machine including a swingingly mounted track, a carriage movable along the track, a tubular spindle adapted for connection with a grinding or polishing tool and including a universal joint, and means mounted on the carriage for rotating the spindle, said means including a. motor mounted on the carriage, a beveled pinion driven by the motor, and a beveled. gear driven by the pinion and carried by the spindle in such a manner as to rotate the spindle and still leave the spindle free for vertical movement.

8. A grinding and polishing machine in cluding a revolubly mounted standard, a sleeve movable along the standard, a laterally extending track carried by the sleeve, acarriage movable along the track, a tool supported by the carriage, and means operable from the carriage for raising and lowering the track, said means including a threaded shaft, a nut carried by the sleeve and engaging the shaft, and means manually operable from the carriage for turning the nut.

9. A grinding and polishing machine including a swingingly mounted track, a carriage movable along the track, a tubular spindle adapted for connection with a grinding or polishing tool supported by the carriage, and means for supplying water to the spindle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' JOSEPH H. SPEARS. [11. s]

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

